And when the twelfth year came, his wife, who was in another land, grieved at her long separation from him, sent him a letter; and he happened to be reading this Áryá verse which she had written in the letter, at night, by the light of a candle, when the king, who had gone out in search of adventures, was listening concealed, “Hot, long, and tremulous, do these sighs issue forth from me, during thy absence, my lord, but not the breath of life, hard-hearted woman that I am!”
When the king had heard this read over and over again by the kárpaṭika, he went to his palace and said to himself, “This kárpaṭika, whose wife is in such despondency, has long endured affliction, and if his objects are not gained, he will, when this twelfth year is at an end, yield his breath. So I must not let him wait any longer.” After going through these reflections, the king at once sent a female slave, and summoned that kárpaṭika. And after he had caused a grant to be written, he gave him this order, “My good fellow, go towards the northern quarter through Omkárapíṭha; there live on the proceeds of a village of the name of Khaṇḍavaṭaka, which I give you by this grant; you will find it by asking your way as you go along.”
When the king had said this, he gave the grant into his hands; and the kárpaṭika went off by night without telling his followers. He was dissatisfied, saying to himself, “How shall I be helped to conquer my enemies by a single village that will rather disgrace me? Nevertheless my sovereign’s orders must be obeyed.” So he slowly went on, and having passed Omkárapíṭha, he saw in a distant forest many maidens playing, and then he asked them this question, “Do you know where Khaṇḍavaṭaka is?” When they heard that, they answered, “We do not know; go on further; our father lives only ten yojanas from here; ask him; he may perhaps know of that village.”
When the maidens had said this to him, the kárpaṭika went on, and beheld their father, a Rákshasa of terrific appearance. He said to him, “Whereabouts here is Khaṇḍavaṭaka? Tell me, my good fellow.” And the Rákshasa, quite taken aback by his courage, said to him, “What have you got to do there? The city has been long deserted; but if you must go, listen; this road in front of you divides into two: take the one on the left hand, and go on until you reach the main entrance of Khaṇḍavaṭaka, the lofty ramparts on each side of which make it attract the eye.”
When the Rákshasa had told him this, he went on, and reached that main street, and entered that city, which, though of heavenly beauty, was deserted and awe-inspiring. And in it he entered the palace, which was surrounded with seven zones, and ascended the upper storey of it, which was made of jewels and gold. There he saw a gem-bestudded throne, and he sat down on it. Thereupon a Rákshasa came with a wand in his hand, and said to him, “Mortal, why have you sat down here on the king’s throne?” When the resolute kárpaṭika Kṛishṇaśakti heard this, he said, “I am lord here; and you are tribute-paying house-holders whom king Vikramáditya has made over to me by his grant.”
When the Rákshasa heard that, he looked at the grant, and bowing before him, said, “You are king here, and I am your warder; for the decrees of king Vikramáditya are binding everywhere.” When the Rákshasa had said this, he summoned all the subjects, and the ministers and the king’s retinue presented themselves there; and that city was filled with an army of four kinds of troops. And every one paid his respects to the kárpaṭika; and he was delighted, and performed his bathing and his other ceremonies with royal luxury.
Then, having become a king, he said to himself with amazement; “Astonishing truly is the power of king Vikramáditya; and strangely unexampled is the depth of his dignified reserve, in that he bestows a kingdom like this and calls it a village!” Full of amazement at this, he remained there ruling as a king: and Vikramáditya supported his followers in Ujjayiní.
And after some days this kárpaṭika become a king went eagerly to pay his respects to king Vikramáditya, shaking the earth with his army. And when he arrived and threw himself at the feet of Vikramáditya, that king said to him, “Go and put a stop to the sighs of your wife who sent you the letter.” When the king despatched him with these words, Kṛishṇaśakti, full of wonder, went with his friends to his own land. There he drove out his kinsmen, and delighted his wife, who had been long pining for him; and having gained more even than he had ever wished for, enjoyed the most glorious royal fortune.
So wonderful were the deeds of king Vikramáditya.
Now one day he saw a Bráhman with every hair on his head and body standing on end; and he said to him, “What has reduced you, Bráhman, to this state?” Then the Bráhman told him his story in the following words: